About this bus lane
Local bus services and nothing else. This is the tightest exemption list on any Reading bus lane and it catches cyclists out: most other Reading lanes let pedal cycles through, and this one does not — the Order names local buses as the only exception, with no carve-out for cycles, hackney carriages or private hire.
It applies at any time. Reading’s Orders state hours only where a restriction is time-limited, and this Schedule sets none, so the restriction runs around the clock, every day.
The restricted length is short: the centre carriageway from the Portman Road junction for 9 metres south, in the offside lane, in both directions. The council lists two camera-enforced sections here — Beresford Road (Northbound) and Beresford Road (Southbound), both enforced since 10 June 2019.
The camera locations and enforcement start dates are transcribed from the council’s response to Freedom of Information request FOI/164207/2026, received 27 July 2026.
Transcribed from The Borough of Reading (Bus Lanes) (A33) Order 2018, in force 30 April 2018, Schedule 2, supplied by Reading Borough Council in its response to Freedom of Information request FOI/164952/2026, received 3 September 2026.
Who can use it
- Local buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Pedal cycles
- Hackney carriages
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Beresford Road — centre carriageway, from the Portman Road junction for 9 metres south, both directions, Reading. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 21 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the Beresford Road bus lane?
The Beresford Road Bus Lane in Reading operates at any time. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Beresford Road bus lane?
Reading Borough Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Beresford Road bus lane?
Local buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles, pedal cycles, hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Beresford Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Reading Borough Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Reading Borough Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. This bus lane operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Reading Borough Council accepted 22% of the 8,297 formal challenges it received in 2023/24, and of the 127 that went on to the tribunal, 10 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.